Caerphilly enters the ICE age as enterprise hub grows
ONE of Wales’ leading hubs for startup businesses and entrepreneurs is expanding – as it targets having 1,000 firms under its roof.
Caerphilly-based Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (Welsh ICE) has securing an additional 2,500 sq ft of office space.
This comes after the centre opened its third building, the Octagon, in September last year.
It means the campus now consists of 30,000 sq ft of office space, housing 170 businesses and 400 staff and entrepreneurs. The former openplan floor has now been renovated, creating nine new medium-sized offices, with the aim of providing private space for larger start-ups.
Community manager at Welsh ICE Jamie McGowan said: “For the past six months at ICE we have been operating at a 95% capacity, so in order to continue to grow, we knew we simply needed more space.
“When the extra space became available we jumped at it, and we are now proud to say that we will occupy the entire ground floor at Britannia House. The office space will be used to support smaller teams who perhaps have outgrown a single desk in our co-working spaces, but are not yet ready for one of our larger offices. The new space will be a perfect and affordable answer for the four- to sixperson teams.
“Along with our other buildings, the Octagon and the Lodge, this expansion is all part of our ongoing long-term vision at ICE to have 1,000 businesses on site, and with the popularity of our ICE 50 funded spaces, we are well on course to achieve that,” said Mr McGowan.
Welsh ICE is currently running its ICE 50 scheme, where 50 start-up firms will receive a fully-funded package including a full-time desk, a tailored mentoring programme, creative workshops, telephone and high-speed internet access and oneto-one support for 12 months.